His last public appearance was on April 29 when at Old Trafford when he presented former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with a commemorative trophy.

He pledged that “I will be back later in the season to watch the team and, in the meantime, all the best to Jose Mourinho and the players.”

Alex is the most successful manager in the history of the British game, his trophy haul at Old Trafford included 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League cups.

On Saturday 5 May, the football world was rocked by the news that Sir Alex Ferguson had undergone surgery for a brain haemorrhage.

Since then, the most successful manager in English football history has battled in a way only he knows how.